Monetary Policy
ECB's Bini Smaghi sees further policy tightening
European Central Bank executive committee member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said in an interview published Sunday 6 August that he sees further increases in euro zone interest rates in the next months.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, August 2006
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its August 2006 Statement on Monetary Policy on 4 August. The RBA raised its inflation forecasts but said the risks to the outlook were balanced.
Belgium's Quaden says all things possible
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said in a radio interview it is possible for the European Central Bank to control inflation at the same time as promoting growth.
Trichet says further rate rises may be 'warranted'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 3 August more interest rate increases may be "warranted" after the bank increased eurozone rates for the fourth time in eight months.
Ghana's Acquah says economy is resilient
Dr. Paul Acquah, governor of the Bank of Ghana, said the real sector of the economy in the first half of the year was robust in spite of the rising petroleum prices and the effect on domestic fuel prices.
Surprise as Bank of England tightens early
The Bank of England raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Thursday 3 August, bringing the official bank rate to 4.75% after a year on hold.
Comment: BoE brightens silly season slumber
The Bank of England surprised practically everyone on 3 August by raising rates by 25 basis points. The Bank's next Inflation Report, to be released on 9 August, and the minutes from the August meeting will make intriguing reading. The move will also the…
The Old Lady can afford to be patient
According to this article by the Financial Times, published on Wednesday 2 August, there is a big difference between the predictability of the ECB's plans on Thursday, and the uncertainty surrounding the Bank of England's decision the same day.
BoJ will raise rates at slow pace
Bank of Japan policy board member Atsushi Mizuno said Wednesday 2 August that the central bank will raise short-term interest rates at a "slow" pace while cautiously watching economic and price situations.
Gono's monetary policy unsound and ineffective
According to this article published by the NewZimbabwe website on Tuesday 1 August, the Zimbabwean economic meltdown is rooted in a crisis of political governance and legitimacy.
Comment: Has Trichet's gambit paid off?
The ECB heads into this week's monetary policy meeting with markets fully expecting a 25 basis point hike. Has the decision to have an unscheduled meeting, which effectively pre-announced the decision, changed the prospects for the course of eurozone…
Mishkin to be sworn in after Aug 8 Fed meeting
Federal Reserve Governor-designate Frederic Mishkin will not take office in time to participate in the next Fed policy-setting meeting on 8 August, a Fed spokesman told Reuters on Thursday 27 July.
Central banks need not divine bubbles
According to this article by Samuel Brittan of the Financial Times, published Friday 28 July, the question of whether central bankers should target asset prices will not go away.
China official mulls freer hand for central bank
According to this article from the Financial Times, published Friday 28 July, a People's Bank of China official has suggested policy making could be more effective if the central bank had more autonomy.
Kohn says Fed policy lags may be shorter
The communication of interest-rate moves during the Fed's latest tightening campaign may mean their impact on the economy will be felt more quickly than otherwise, a top Fed official said in a letter released on Friday 28 July.
RBNZ leaves OCR unchanged at 7.25 per cent
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced Thursday 27 July that the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain unchanged at 7.25 per cent. Reserve bank governor Alan Bollard said: "Recent economic developments have been broadly in line with our June Monetary…
Minutes suggest smaller rate cuts in Brazil
Brazil's central bank said Thursday 27 July it sees a "low probability" of inflationary pressures in the coming quarters, but interest rate cuts may need to be smaller to avoid a pickup in inflation.
BoJ 'very careful' about drastic rate hike-Yosano
Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano said Thursday 27 July the Bank of Japan is "very careful" about implementing credit tightening too drastically.
PBOC's Yu to stay in post until replaced - report
Yu Yongding, whose term is due to end this month, will remain in his post until a replacement is found, an official in the news department of the People's Bank of China told Dow Jones on Thursday 27 July.
BoJ's Suda sees 'gradual' rate rises
Bank of Japan policy board member Miyako Suda repeated Wednesday 26 July the central bank's view that future rate increases would be 'gradual' if the economy continues to show sustained growth.
Comment: RBI sounds warning call
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised interest rates by 25 basis points on 25 July. The central bank warned that the higher oil prices were having a "permanent" effect. Rapid credit growth and rising risk-premia were also top of the list of concerns…
Mersch on monetary policy-making in the euro area
In the speech 'Monetary policy-making in the euro area' given on 28 June Yves Mersch of the Central Bank of Luxembourg said since the introduction of the euro, inflation rates averaged slightly more than 2% in the euro area.
ECB paper on fiscal policy in a monetary economy
The ECB Working Paper "Fiscal policy in a monetary economy with capital and finite lifetime" develops a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with nominal rigidities, capital accumulation and finite lifetimes.
Bernanke's fluid inflation tone bemuses Wall St.
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke seemed remarkably unruffled last week by recent signs that inflation is accelerating, according to this article by Reuters.